# California Scrub-Jay (*Aphelocoma californica*) The California Scrub-Jay is a cheerful blue bird that loves to hop around in trees and bushes. They are very smart and can even remember where they hide their food! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 49 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Scrub Jay ![California Scrub-Jay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aphelocoma_californica_in_Seattle_cropped.jpg&width=800) Photo: Aphelocoma_californica_in_Seattle.jpg : Minette Layne derivative work: Samsara ( talk ), CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aphelocoma_californica_in_Seattle_cropped.jpg) ## Appearance The California Scrub-Jay has striking sky-blue wings, tail, and head, contrasted with a grey back and white belly. A thin blue necklace often separates its throat from its chest. Unlike many jays, it lacks a crest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Aphelocoma ## Interesting facts - A scrub-jay can remember where it buried up to 5,000 acorns and seeds! - These clever birds can recognize individual human faces they encounter often! - They sometimes imitate the calls of hawks to scare off rivals from food. - They sometimes trick other birds by pretending to hide food in empty spots. ## Special abilities - **Memory Mapper:** California Scrub-Jays can remember thousands of food cache locations because their sharp memory helps them find buried treats months later. - **Acorn Planter:** California Scrub-Jays help grow oak forests because they bury acorns and sometimes forget them, letting new trees sprout. - **Smart Scrutinizer:** California Scrub-Jays can solve complex problems and even use tools because their clever minds help them find tricky food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 27-31 cm - **Wingspan:** 38-46 cm - **Weight:** 0.07-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 9-19 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 15-17 days - **Migration Distance:** 0 km ## Diet & Feeding These smart birds feast on a mix of tasty plants and small creatures, especially acorns! - **Primary Foods:** Acorns, Insects, Berries, Seeds, Spiders, Small reptiles - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Coast Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coast-live-oak) (*Quercus agrifolia*) — for its vital acorn food source and nesting sites. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — is a swift aerial predator that hunts adult scrub-jays. - **Eaten by:** [Gopher Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-snake) (*Pituophis catenifer*) — preys on eggs and nestlings in their nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch birds from a distance and not to disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Scrub-Jay? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is California Scrub-Jay? 27-31 cm ### What is California Scrub-Jay's wingspan? 38-46 cm ### How much does California Scrub-Jay weigh? 0.07-0.1 kg ### How long does California Scrub-Jay live? 9-19 years ### How fast can California Scrub-Jay move? 35 km/h ### What does California Scrub-Jay eat? These smart birds feast on a mix of tasty plants and small creatures, especially acorns! ### Where is California Scrub-Jay usually found? Urban areas ## Where to spot - [Arastradero Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arastradero-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park - [Desert Garden Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-garden-conservatory) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Discovery Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/discovery-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see California Scrub-Jay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-scrub-jay) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [California Scrub-Jay: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-scrub-jay)